Urban Search & Rescue

The Chino Valley Fire District Urban Search and Rescue Team consists of 30 highly skilled members that are trained and ready to provide a coordinated response to a variety of disasters in urban environments.

About the Team

The Fire District’s USAR team is a medium level OES Response unit. Team members continually train with teams from the surrounding area and can respond to a variety of incidents throughout the region. Response capabilities include rope rescues and locating and extracting victims trapped in collapsed structures, confined spaces or trenches.

The USAR team carries a wide variety of tools and equipment that includes shoring and cribbing materials (wood and other items that are used to reinforce walls or secure heavy objects in place), and a 12 and a half foot inflatable boat with a 20 horse-power engine for swift water rescues. The USAR team also has a search camera that allows members to view up to nine feet inside a hole and/or voids where victims may be trapped, and to verbally communicate with victims during a rescue through a special talk back feature on the camera.